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As Big As Net Neutrality? FCC Kills State-Imposed Internet Monopolies

tedlistens writes: On Thursday, before it voted in favor of "net neutrality," the Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to override state laws in Tennessee and North Carolina that have barred local governments and public utilities from offering broadband outside the areas where they have traditionally sold electricity. Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance said the move was as important for internet competition as net neutrality: "Preventing big Internet Service Providers from unfairly discriminating against content online is a victory, but allowing communities to be the owners and stewards of their own broadband networks is a watershed moment that will serve as a check against the worst abuses of the cable monopoly for decades to come." The laws, like those in over a dozen other states, are often created under pressure from large private Internet providers like Comcast and Verizon, who consequently control monopolies or duopolies over high-speed internet in these places.

5 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Yay! by Black+Parrot · · Score: 4, Funny

    Up with service! Down with monopolies! Up with net neutrality! Down with regulation! Up with Pluto! Down with Kim Dotcom!

    Wait a minute - Today's stories leave me feeling edgy and confused.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  2. Re:One Word ... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny

    actually, one word is impossible due to the lameness filter

    Maybe we can get the FCC to take that on next!

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  3. Re: Systemd, for or against? by jd · · Score: 4, Funny

    As far as I know, Systemd has no capacity to think and therefore has no opinion on net neutrality.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  4. Re: Systemd, for or against? by dissy · · Score: 2, Funny

    As far as I know, Systemd has no capacity to think and therefore has no opinion on net neutrality.

    Three days ago the Systemd-UpdateAgainstYourWillD automatically installed SystemD-AiD, which is a requirement to even boot the kernel because it was deemed no human being ever has or ever could be capable of the overwhelming task of "run some programs", which of course includes programs written by humans.

    Two days ago there were promises SystemD-AiD would also gain enough intelligence to read corrupted syslogs, while insulting your petty human intelligence via way of SystemD-FortuneD, and injecting them into all outbound emails sent from your username via SystemD-SpammerD.
    It was also rumored to soon be capable of washing your dishes, since no init system wants to start dirty programs or use plastic fork()'s.

    Yesterday they canceled the dish washing patch based mainly on a usenet poll where "fuck systemd!!!" was interpreted by a similar AI as voting against the feature, thus canceling the patch due to overwhelming demand.

  5. Re:Well done FCC by Darinbob · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's a slippery slope, soon the railroad barons will have to allow anyone to transport on their tracks!